fact examine: Federal brokers in Portland don't seem to be mercenaries provided via Erik Prince

Chelsey Cox united states of america these days

published 10:54 PM EDT Aug four, 2020

The declare: Federal agents quelling protests in Portland, Oregon, are mercenaries contracted by way of private protection company 'ZTI'

types of the claim got immense consideration on social media after reviews of unidentified federal legislations enforcement agents detaining protesters in Portland. The Oregon city has considered every day demonstrations given that George Floyd's dying in police custody on Memorial Day, u . s . a . these days has suggested.

A July 23 fb post by means of consumer Sebastian Twardosz elements a picture of a person in rebel apparatus pointing a gun at anything out of the body. On the person's shoulder is a patch with letters "ZTI" or "ZT1." The photo is considered one of a collection of photographs taken by freelance photographer Mathieu Lewis-Rolland.

Rolland posted it to his Twitter account on July 21 with the caption, "Please pay attention. Lives are going to be lost in Portland."

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Twardosz claimed the man pictured is an agent contracted with ZTI, a non-public security business, hired to arrest and detain protesters in Portland.

"ZTI is a private business that gives armed and other safety-connected personnel to their valued clientele which include homeland security, the dep.. of defense, and an alphabet soup of alternative US executive agencies. It's on their personal web site," Twardosz wrote.

there's a hyperlink in the caption to a domain for ZTI.

one other fb post on July 23 by user Barbara Russell Maxwell claimed Jeh Johnson, secretary of the department of fatherland security all over the Obama administration, established on MSNBC that the unidentified officers have been provided by means of Erik Prince.

Prince is a former Navy SEAL, the brother of training Secretary Betsy DeVos and the founding father of armed forces contractor Blackwater, country today said. Prince offered Blackwater years in the past. The new york instances has described Prince as a "security contractor with shut ties to the Trump administration" who "has every now and then served as an informal adviser to Trump administration officers."

extra: Oregon governor, federal authorities reach settlement to start withdrawing agents from Portland

Twardosz additionally mentioned Blackwater in his post. He noted the company and ZTI constantly employ private contractors to fight in battle zones in Iraq and Afghanistan regardless of international laws about battle engagement.

more: Reporting on a lethal airstrike in Afghanistan

"but regardless, they are now working right here within the united states – and paid for with our personal tax dollars," Twardosz claimed.

"So let's be clear, these 'federal' agents are truly mercenaries, paid by the executive to intimidate, threaten and even assault americans on American soil," Twardosz wrote.

Neither Twardosz nor Maxwell replied to a request for remark from us of a nowadays.

Did the U.S. government hire mercenaries to assault its personal citizens?

First, on mercenaries: Saeed Mokbil, Chairperson-Rapporteur for the United nations' Working community on mercenaries and human rights violations, pointed out mercenary-linked activities undermine goal sixteen.2 of U.N. Sustainable purpose development sixteen. goal sixteen.2 aims to "conclusion abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all styles of violence against and torture of infants, who're generally the victims of torture, detention, sexual slavery and forcible recruitment as baby troopers," according to insurance of a 2018 meeting to discuss mercenaries and private contractors.  

The identity of the nameless federal officers became scrutinized within the media after violent encounters with protesters in Portland. The mystery of the coded patches on agents' shoulders bought special consideration on social media.

Mark A. Morgan, senior reputable performing the duties of the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border coverage, pointed out throughout a July 21 branch of homeland security briefing that he licensed and supported anonymity for officers acting in a federal potential in Portland.

"there was a huge amount of false assistance available," Morgan referred to. "it's offensive to seek advice from these committed guys and ladies that are available as legislations enforcement experts to make that reference," he endured, involving references to "unidentified masked stormtroopers."

Morgan additionally referenced examples of the markings federal agents are donning on their uniforms. One featured the letter and number combination "DZ1." here is a different identifier linked to the agent's name, in accordance with Morgan.

"Deputy Director (Richard "Kris") Cline said he would not have his officers wear identify tags as a result of they're being doxxed. that's precisely appropriate. that is one other thing it's absolutely disgusting. So, they're not handiest jeopardizing the lives of the agents, but they're jeopardizing the lives of their families as they're putting out their home information and they're suggesting that individuals go to their buildings," noted Morgan of protesters.  

Morgan additionally addressed the markings in a July 17 tweet.

"Our personnel are naturally marked as federal LEOs & have entertaining identifiers. you'll no longer see names on their uniforms b/c these identical violent criminals use this information to goal them & their families, placing both at risk. As appearing Commissioner, i can't let that occur!" Morgan wrote.

different models of the viral claim characteristic images of an officer with a patch that reads "SRT," based on Stephanie Dube Dwilson, writer for Heavy.com. 

"Our SRT teams, it be the equal aspect ... different colour uniforms, naturally identified," Morgan informed newshounds all the way through the briefing.

"SRT" is an acronym for particular Response team, in response to a doc released with the aid of the CBP.

fb consumer Twardosz edited his publish with an replace on July 23: "The patch may additionally say ZT1 as a variety of identification for whoever is donning it. Regardless, we don't know who these people are. What all this suggests is that we are our own worst enemy," he wrote.

Did Jeh Johnson implicate Erik Prince and Blackwater on MSNBC?

Johnson's interview with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow changed into uploaded to the community's YouTube account on July 21. whereas responding to Maddow's query about even if people are overreacting to federal police presence in Portland, Johnson defined that almost all coverage features agents are contractors.

"apparently, most participants of the federal coverage service are in fact inner most contractors. after which, in addition to that, what the performing secretary has completed is to also install accessories of Immigration (and) Customs Enforcement and Customs Border protection that are peculiarly knowledgeable for particular operations. They do put on camouflage, but they may be imagined to put on emblems; patches that indicate that they are federal legislations enforcement," Johnson observed.

Johnson made no reference to Erik Prince or Blackwater right through the interview.

Examples of emblems selecting brokers in Portland as legislations enforcement are pictured in Morgan's July 17 tweet thread. 

more: Federal agents, officers head to Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee as Operation Legend expands

Our score: False

The declare that federal law enforcement are mercenaries employed by way of the inner most protection business ZTI is FALSE because it isn't supported via our analysis. A senior CBP reliable approved using pleasing identifiers – patches with letters and numbers — in lieu of names for federal brokers in Portland to protect brokers' privateness. it's additionally false to claim that former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson implicated Erik Prince or Blackwater in a televised interview.    

Our fact-assess sources:

united states these days, "Federal brokers in unmarked automobiles, 'wall of mothers': here's what's occurring in Portland"

Mathieu Lewis-Rolland, July 21, 2020, tweet

U.S. branch of place of origin safety, "Jeh Charles Johnson, Secretary of homeland security, 2013 - 2017"

u . s . today, "Russian spies and returned channels: Media stories factor to pair of Trump pals"

United international locations and the rule of thumb of legislation, "Sustainable construction aim sixteen" 

United nations meeting insurance and Press Releases, "Mercenaries, inner most militia Contractors Can Destabilize Rule of legislations, expert Tells Third Committee, amid Calls to conclusion Racism, respect Migrant Rights"

department of place of birth protection Briefing on Protests in Portland

Marc A. Morgan, July 17, 2020, tweet thread

Heavy.com, "ZT1 Patch on Portland Agent in Viral photograph Is an Identifier for Anonymity"

Frontline, U.S. Customs and Border protection, Vol. 5, challenge 3

Rachel Maddow, MSNBC, "Trump Following Nixon 'law And Order Playbook On Steroids': Jeh Johnson"

country nowadays, "'Secret police drive': Feds reportedly pull Portland protesters into unmarked cars, stirring outrage"

NPR, "four Insights About Blackwater Founder Erik Prince"

long island times, "Erik Prince Recruits Ex-Spies to help Infiltrate Liberal agencies"

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